Thursday, April 07, 2011

Start Your Day Right!

I have always been a breakfast lover, and so has my husband. We very rarely leave our house without sitting down for a quick bowl of cereal or a piece of toast. Since becoming a Mommy, I am even more aware of how important it is to have a healthy, hearty breakfast. Especially when we are talking about my energetic 18 month old! As we began to suspect that our little one may have food sensitivities, I had the opportunity to meet with Taiha Wagner of Just One Bite (read her profile here; "Like" Just One Bite on Facebook). She was an awesome resource for us when it came to dietary suggestions, not just for kids with food sensitivities but for all of us. Her suggestions for breakfast (and all meals!) helped to boost our immune systems and keep us functioning at our best.

On top of the breakfast suggestions below, Taiha also recommended that we give our little guy a fish oil supplement in the morning or mid-day. I tell EVERY mom I can about this - I cannot tell you how strongly I believe in providing this supplement to your children - not only for immunity, but for brain development, skin health, etc. (do your research, you will be a believer!) You can buy Barlean's Omega Swirl at any health food store - take two teaspoons per day. They have wonderful flavors - our little guy loves it and we have seen such positive results from it!

The biggest thing I have learned from Taiha and my own "mommy research" is that boxed cereal and toast are not going to cut it - my son burned through that type of breakfast way too quickly, and so do I!

Breakfast ideas for your kids (and for you!):

Plain oatmeal mixed with milk instead of water (for a fast breakfast, we microwave milk and instant oatmeal and mix a tsp. of agave nectar into it, then I add frozen blueberries or raspberries to cool it down and add more flavor - a huge hit with my little guy!) tip: for an extra affordable route, you can buy the plain oatmeal in bulk and separate it into individual servings, add a 1/2 tablespoon of brown sugar and some raisins to each serving and it will be ready to go when you need it!

Lean turkey roll-ups and cheese with whole grain or gluten free/allergen free crackers (it sounds a little weird, but kids don't know the difference between breakfast and lunch - if they like it, they'll eat it! Spread a little hummus on the turkey before you roll it for extra protein and fiber!)

Super Smoothie - when we are trying to get out the door to work and day care, we use our personal blender (this is the one that we have - love it!) to make our little one a "super smoothie." Recipe: One-half of a banana, 1/4 cup of frozen blueberries (if you choose to, you can add 1/4 cup of another frozen fruit (mango, peaches, etc.), 3/4 cup of baby spinach leaves (I pull the little stems off), 2 tsp. Omega Swirl Fish Oil and a blend of whole milk and water (enough liquid to blend, I eyeball it). Put it in a no leak straw sippee cup - our little guy LOVES them! (He actually drinks one of these every day!) Make one for yourself while you are at it! :)

Another on-the go idea: Cut up grapes or a half of a banana, string cheese and a few crackers (you can't go wrong!)

Pancakes made with quinoa flour and fresh berries: A weekend treat. Sub in quinoa flour for great, nutty flavor and an awesome punch of protein and fiber. Totally guilt free!

I would LOVE to hear some of your healthy breakfast ideas - send them my way via email or the comments!